Making Money by Surfing

What are “Paid to Surf” Sites?
“Paid to Surf” programs offer their members the ability to earn money for doing various activities online.

Here are a few examples of such tasks that users are asked to complete:

How to Get Paid for Surfing the Web ArrowBrowsing Advertisements

The surfer is required to view and click text or graphic ads (banners) and then read the commercial content behind that ad.

ArrowVisiting Sponsors' Sites

Surfing to advertiser's websites, doing various activities there (like filling out forms, questionnaires, testing new website features, watching video ads etc).

ArrowCompleting Offers

Members are required to complete all kinds of online offers, like signing up for free trials of various web services, subscribing to newsletters, etc.

ArrowParticipating in Sweepstakes

Users are asked to enter sweepstakes, drawings and all sorts of promotional campaigns (which can also bring them some nice prizes, if they win).

ArrowSearching The Web

Members are required to use specific search engines and participate in various online search tasks.

ArrowReferring Friends

Some “Surf for Money” sites pay extra bonuses when you refer your friends to join their service.

How Does It Work?
How You Can Earn from Being Online

“Surfing for Money” services are those that
connect two types of audiences: advertisers and ordinary Internet surfers.

We'll explain how things work using the following example:
The first thing a totally new dating site needs is members.
If it does not have its database full of user profiles fast, no one will even consider joining it.

After all, who wants to join an empty dating site? Not many.

That's where paid surfing companies get into the picture: they can help dating sites (and lots of other web-based services) getting members extremely fast.

It's a win-win situation.

The advertisers (such as the dating site from the example above) are willing to pay good money in order to get very fast results.
The surfers are the providers of these “fast results” and they're being compensated and rewarded for their time on the net.

How Much Can I Really Earn?

It depends on various factors:
ArrowThe number of “paid to surf” websites that you join (the more you sign up with, the more money you'll be able to make).

ArrowThe time you spend each day online, completing offers, surfing, signing up on various websites, etc.

ArrowHow much money you're being offered by the advertiser for each completed task.

ArrowHow many friends you refer to the service you're using.
If you can refer a lot of people, you can improve your earnings considerably.

95% of the users do not make more than $100 - $200 per month.
The top 5% (most active, dedicated surfers) make much more.

"Will I Make Enough to Leave my Day Job?"
For 95% of the people - probably not.
Participating in “Surfing for Cash” programs can generate some extra money on the side, but it can rarely replace a full-time job income.

"How Do I Get the Money?"

Usually, you're getting paid either by check or through Paypal.

"Does It Cost Anything?"
No, it doesn't.


Pros and Cons
Pros
Doesn't require any specific knowledge, professional background, training, skills or experience.

Practically anybody can stay online and do stuff – even total beginners.
Working online from your cozy home environment with your PC.
One of very few ways, kids (above 13 y/o) and teens can use to make money online.
Flexible working hours: you can do it part time and even on a spare-time basis.

Great time killer when you have nothing to do (which makes you money, on the side).
Cons
Can't replace the income of a full-time job.
Can be quite boring after a while.



How To Get Started?

Here are a few examples of paid surfing companies, to get you started.
They will enable you to “test the waters” and see if this can work for you.
All the offers below are 100% free to join.

ArrowSend Earnings

ArrowCash 4 Offers

ArrowInbox Dollars

ArrowUniqPaid

ArrowSearch Cactus

Interesting Internet Facts & Numbers

Arrow"Internet" defined by Webopedia

ArrowHistory of the Internet by Wikipedia

ArrowInternet Usage World Stats